Ex-cop indicted on perjury charge

Desmond is facing a charge of perjury for lying under oath on Nov. 8 while in Brockton District Court for a restraining order hearing, court documents show.

WEST BRIDGEWATER – A Plymouth County grand jury has indicted former West Bridgewater police officer Daniel J. Desmond Jr. for perjury. Desmond, 41, who was fired from his police job in February, was expected to be arraigned today in Brockton Superior Court.

Desmond is facing a charge of perjury for lying under oath on Nov. 8 while in Brockton District Court for a restraining order hearing, court documents show.

On that day, Desmond was sworn in as a witness, and an inquiry was made during court proceedings about his involvement and knowledge of the case, court documents show.

Desmond did “willfully and corruptly testify” while knowing his testimony “to be false” the court indictment states.

Desmond’s attorney, Tim Burke of Needham, could not be reached for comment Monday afternoon. In February, Burke said his client was appealing the town’s decision to fire him.

Selectmen voted unanimously on Feb. 20 to fire Desmond for lying, possible criminal perjury, conduct unbecoming an officer and harassment, according to a town decision.

Desmond was placed on paid administrative leave on Dec. 10 after West Bridgewater police received a complaint from the attorney general’s office about his conduct, police said.

In a seven-page letter dated Feb. 20 to Desmond, selectmen Chairman Eldon Moreira and selectmen Jerry Lawrence and Nancy Maloney outlined their reasons for his firing.

Selectmen claim that Desmond lied to a judge when asked in court on Nov. 8 if he had been to a Brockton woman’s home.

The letter states Desmond testified in court that he hadn’t been to her home, but a Brockton police officer, after responding to a call at the woman’s home on Nov. 2, told investigators he spoke with both Desmond and the woman in her kitchen.

“Whether this is criminal perjury, perjury or just plain lying under oath, it does not mask the fact that you were untruthful in a court of law,” selectmen wrote in February.

The letter further states that, during a recording of court proceedings, Judge James McGovern said in court that he does not find Desmond to be a credible witness.

“We are dismayed that a police officer of our town could leave such a distaste to a sitting judge,” selectmen wrote.

A judge on Jan. 10 lifted a restraining order filed by a Brockton woman against Desmond.

The woman had obtained a restraining order after Desmond, who lives in Brockton, went to her home at 11:34 p.m. on Dec. 22, court documents show.

In a court affidavit, the woman wrote that Desmond, was “completely erratic, hysterical,” called her from his cell phone at least 15 times, texted her and “began shaking the doorknob and ringing the bell,” court documents show. Brockton police responded to the woman’s home after receiving several calls from concerned residents.

In 2013, Desmond ranked 16th among the town’s highest-paid employees, earning $115,872. He was hired by the town in 1997.

Maria Papadopoulos may be reached at mpapa@enterprisenews.com or follow on Twitter @MariaP_ENT.